Miami Fashion Shoot Interrupted by Boatload of Fleeing Migrants

A fashion shoot on Miami Beach was interrupted when a boat pulled up to the beach, and nine or so men abandoned the ship and scattered.

The New Times Broward-Palm Beachreports that Russian photographer Ekaterina Juskowski hit the beach early at 6 a.m., but had to stop shooting her model friend when a boat arrived nearby. She initially thought the vessel might just be carrying scuba divers, but it came right up to the shore and the passengers jumped off.

Watch, via YouTube:

A U.S. Border Patrol spokesman told the New Times that the video was under investigation. “That’s a testament to how confident these organizations are — what we call transnational criminal organizations — who smuggle criminals and narcotics right onto the beach. There has been an increase in known maritime smuggling in Florida — from Key West all along the Florida coast — from fiscal year 2014 to now.”

Juskowski, who immigrated from Russia herself, said she identified with the migrants. “Witnessing people starting their life anew by jumping off the boat and running into the city made my personal struggle seem rather small.”